Types of Dreams Essay

Custom StudentMr.
TeacherENG
1001-04
17 February 2017

Types of Dreams

Dreams are among the myriad mysteries of Nature which still stay unraveled and hidden from the light of discovery and openness. Dreams have no definition to characterize them, nor do they have any definite identity. They are always there in all our lives, but they are still like a stranger, unknown and questioned! Some attribute dreams as a channel which let away all such elements of the mind which lay trap in darkness, while we are conscious. They may be regarded as a show case of the semi conscious state of the mind, which gets lightened while the body sleeps.

On the other hand, for some, dreams serve as mere recaps for all that we touch, see, feel, hear, think and all that goes on while we are awake. Some dreams are funny and some scary. Some make sense while some seem to be completely lost in the ocean of confusion. The concept of dreams is something like a shadow behind a screen. We can identify the shape and the movements, but we remain helpless in getting close to its real identity. The following puts forward some of the major and different types of dreams, which have been analyzed by experts.

Different Types of Dreams and What They Mean I 1. Lucid dreams give you the ability to control your own dreams and steer them toward the direction you want. In the lucid state, you are more willing to confront threats and as a result, become more self confident. When you achieve lucidity, you can use it as a tool to improve your sports game, to rehearse for a speech, to fulfill your fantasies, or to solve a problem in your waking life. In fact, some athletes utilize their lucid dreams to practice their tennis serve, golf stroke or bat swing. Even in your day to day life, you can use lucid dreams to ask the boss for a raise, prepare for a first date, overcome phobias, get over writer’s block, etc. Lucid dreams can help you visualize and rehearse an event in your mind before it actually occurs.

It helps to overcome fears and anxieties. The application of lucid dreams is limited only to your imagination. Because brain activity during the dream state is the same as during a real life event, what you “learn” or “practice” in your lucid dream state is similar to the training and preparation you do in the waking world. Your neuronal patterns are already being conditioned. At least half of all adults have had one lucid dream in their lifetime. Many have reported having lucid dreams without even trying. Often flying is associated with lucid dreams. With practice, lucid dreaming can be learned and achieved at your will.

2. In a prophetic dream, you see the future through your dream. It is difficult to determine that a dream is prophetic because we can only confirm such a dream after it has taken place. Even then, we only hear of the success stories. There are so many other dreams that do not come true. Thus, prophetic dream may just be mere coincidences. In the science world, it is believed that psychic powers do not exist. Scientists rationalize that dreams that seemingly come true may actually be a suggestion or guide for you to follow, thus making it seem as if the dream is coming true. You are willing it to be true. Another argument is that you may have a tendency to self-edit your dream to match the outcome. Because dreams are so easily forgotten, your memory of the dream may not be accurate.

Yet another theory is that your dreaming mind is able to piece together bits of information faster that your conscious mind. Your mind is able to see what will happen based on information that it has already collected. Still, there are believers that dreams can indeed predict or foretell the future. Prophetic dreams are linked to major disasters, wars, assassinations, accidents, lottery numbers or even with winning horse race. Such dreams have helped solve crimes. In history, Abraham Lincoln was said to have dreamt of his own body laying in a coffin two weeks before he his assassination. British engineer, John Dunne dreamt of the eruption of a volcano in France which came true.

Having a prophetic dream suggests that you are experiencing anxiety and that you are expressing a desire for certainty in the future. You are looking to your dream to help you make an important decision or to reassure you that you are on the right path. 3. You have had a nightmare or two at various parts in your lives. They are quite normal. But what exactly are nightmares and why do you have them? Nightmares are a subcategory of dreams. The distinction of a nightmare is its frightening and/or emotional content.

You tend to wake up in fear in the midst of a nightmare. Because of its frightening nature, you are more likely to remember your nightmares and the vivid details. They have a bigger impact upon your waking mind. Its images stay with you throughout the day. Some studies show that people who are more sensitive, intuitive, creative, or imaginative are more prone to have nightmares.

This may be because they are more empathetic and more in tune with their surroundings. One reason for nightmares may be a way for your unconscious to get your attention about a situation or problem that you have been avoiding. It is time to take notice and confront the issue! Sometimes nightmares serve to warn you about your health or an accident. However, often times nightmares stem from a deeper level indicating that something is troubling you from within your subconscious. Discussing, analyzing, and understanding your nightmares can lead to a solution to some problem, internal conflict or personal difficulty.

4.Recurring dreams are quite common and are often triggered by a certain life situation, transitional phase in life or a problem that keeps coming back again and again. These dreams may recur daily, once a week, or once a month. Whatever the frequency, there is little variation in the dream content itself. Such dreams may be highlighting a personal weakness, fear, or your inability to cope with something in your life – past or present. The repetitive patterns in your dream reveal some of the most valuable information about yourself. It may point to a conflict, situation or matter in your waking life that remains unresolved or unsettled. Some urgent underlying message in your unconscious is demanding to be understood.

5 Predictive Type of Dreams Predictive dreams are the ones about which experts have their say as to be cautious about or pay heed to. They may be indicative of something which might be dragging your mind to somewhat in the future. Predictive dreams are an apt example of what most people say that their dreams have come true. Scientists attribute such dreams as a mere subject of coincidence. For example, on the night before a long journey, you dream about your accident. Now, it would be unwise or may be irrational if you cancel the trip, merely blaming the dream. It might be your fear of traveling which have led to dream and unconsciously imagine the accident.

Likewise, for instance you dream that the car in which you are going to travel is red and has the name of the driver written on it. The next day, you are about to be picked by the same red car bearing the driver’s name. Now, you might have some good reasons to be worried about. But again, according to statistics, such incidents are a mere play of coincidence. However, dreaming about something which you have never seen before is also a subject to be concerned about. That is the reason why, predictive dreams should not be taken for granted, but at the same time, should be persuasive enough if they have to be considered seriously. Know more on what causes dreams

6.Nightmares Most of us might be familiar with nightmares and most people might have also underwent them. These types of dreams are usually disturbing and often leave the dreamer anxious and frightened after waking up. Nightmares often leave their imprint of their incidents and happenings on the dreamer’s mind due to their frightening nature. What causes nightmares? According to experts, these types of dreams are a manifestation of some issues or situations which you have been avoiding or running away from. Often people tend to overlook several unsolved issues in their lives and these issues begin troubling the unconscious mind.

So it can be inferred that nightmares serve as a guide which persuade you to face your troubles and find a solution for them. It is unlikely that such dreams will showcase the exact situations which you have been avoiding. However, they will give you hints clear enough for you to understand that it’s time that you pay attention to all that is worrying you and affecting your life. Causes of bad dreams such as nightmares may also be related to some terrible experiences which the dreamer might have had to face and is not comfortable to discuss with anyone. Nightmares should not be interpreted as ‘bad’ dreams. Try to get closer to them and you will realize that they are your friends, helping you and guiding you to face your fear head-on!

7.Repetitive Types of Dreams Dreams which reoccur more than once and do not seem to be unfamiliar to people are known as repetitive dreams or recurring dreams. Such dreams are common and they are important to whoever dreams them. They are kind of a message bearer about the dreamer’s procrastination or ignorance about certain things. They indicate that there is something very important, which the dreamer must understand and must accomplish for his own safety.

For instance, a student is well aware that if he does not study well before his exams, it is most likely that he will end up his career in a bad place. However, the student pays no heed to this and overlooks his studies. Now, the fear of ruining up his career is somewhere imprinted in the unconscious mind of the student and this very fear manifests itself through recurring dreams. So, until the student starts focusing on his studies, such dreams will keep recurring from time to time. This was, however, a simple example. In some cases, it might become challenging to determine the meaning of such dreams. In such cases, visiting a psychoanalyst is a viable option to consider. 8.Precognitive dreams

Precognitive dreams (Prophetic) are dreams that have been credited with foresight or precognition. It is a phenomenon that has fascinated and puzzled mankind for thousands of years. Precognition is typically defined as knowing or perceiving events before they actually occur. The anecdotal evidence for precognitive dreaming has been documented since before Biblical times. Prior to invading Italy, Hannibal asked for a dream about his future military activities. He was shown winning decisive victories and decided to persevere in his conquest of Italy. The day before his defeat at Waterloo, Napoleon dreamed of a large black cat (a symbol of bad luck) lying down with his troop.

Conclusion

This should do it for this article on the types of dreams and their meanings. There may be several other categories or sub categories of dreams and why not? Every individual has a unique thought process. “When dreams are happy, they are meant to be cherished and enjoyed. And, when dreams seem to be troubling you, it means that they are urging you to notice them and turn them into happy and delightful dreams, as well!”